A group of young girls from Sacramento goes wild when California Hall of Fame inductee Carol Burnett stops to sign autographs. Thirteen Californians were inducted into the state's Hall of Fame in Sacramento.

A group of young girls from Sacramento goes wild when California Hall of Fame inductee Carol Burnett stops to sign autographs. Thirteen Californians were inducted into the state's Hall of Fame in Sacramento.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Image 6 of 14

First lady Maria Shriver talks to the press in front of a portrait of Harvey Milk, one of thirteen Californians inducted into the state's Hall of Fame on Tuesday in Sacramento.

First lady Maria Shriver talks to the press in front of a portrait of Harvey Milk, one of thirteen Californians inducted into the state's Hall of Fame on Tuesday in Sacramento.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Image 7 of 14

R2D2 and C3PO from the "Star Wars" movies are part of an exhibit about George Lucas, one of thirteen Californians inducted into the state's Hall of Fame in Sacramento on Tuesday.

R2D2 and C3PO from the "Star Wars" movies are part of an exhibit about George Lucas, one of thirteen Californians inducted into the state's Hall of Fame in Sacramento on Tuesday.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Image 8 of 14

Harvey Milk's nephew Stuart Milk stops to talk with a reporter Tuesday before the slain San Francisco supervisor was inducted into the California Hall of Fame in Sacramento.

Harvey Milk's nephew Stuart Milk stops to talk with a reporter Tuesday before the slain San Francisco supervisor was inducted into the California Hall of Fame in Sacramento.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Image 9 of 14

The Harvey Milk exhibit at the California Museum.

The Harvey Milk exhibit at the California Museum.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Image 10 of 14

Author Danielle Steel poses on the red carpet Tuesday. She was one of thirteen Californians inducted into the state's Hall of Fame in Sacramento.

Author Danielle Steel poses on the red carpet Tuesday. She was one of thirteen Californians inducted into the state's Hall of Fame in Sacramento.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Image 11 of 14

Inductees to the California Hall of Fame are featured in photos in the lobby of the California Museum.

Inductees to the California Hall of Fame are featured in photos in the lobby of the California Museum.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Image 12 of 14

California Hall of Fame inductee Carol Burnett meets a group of young girls in Sacramento on Tuesday.

California Hall of Fame inductee Carol Burnett meets a group of young girls in Sacramento on Tuesday.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Image 13 of 14

The Harvey Milk exhibit at the California Museum.

The Harvey Milk exhibit at the California Museum.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Image 14 of 14

Milk, Lucas among 13 inducted in Hall of Fame

1 / 14

Back to Gallery

One became the nation's best known gay rights advocate. Another created the world's first prepaid health plan. A third helped harness the power of the microchip. And a fourth inspires millions with his films.

"This is a passion of mine - to tell the story of California, its past, its present and to inspire people to contribute to its future," said California first lady Maria Shriver, who conceived the Hall of Fame four years ago.

Shriver and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger chose the 13 inductees earlier this year after being given a list of 20 nominees. Previous Hall of Famers include labor leader Cesar Chavez and baseball star Willie Mays.

All of the inductees were chosen for being "remarkable individuals who embody the innovative spirit of the Golden State and who have changed the world by pursuing their dreams," according to the museum.

The inclusion of Milk - a former San Francisco supervisor who was the first openly gay elected official in San Francisco and one of the first in the nation - is especially poignant for many gay rights advocates. Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in 1978, and Milk was honored earlier this year with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In October, Schwarzenegger also signed a bill - which he had vetoed in previous years - creating Harvey Milk Day on May 22, his birthday.

Stuart Milk, Milk's nephew who is also gay, accepted his uncle's award Tuesday. Stuart Milk has become an ambassador of sorts for the late politician, traveling to 19 countries and more than 100 U.S. cities in recent years - and this year going from the White House to California's Capitol to accept his uncle's honors.

"Wherever I go - Istanbul, Turkey; Madrid, Spain; Panama City, Panama - Harvey's story gives people hope. Even though we still have a long way to go in the world and U.S. ... he really is a beacon of light for the community," he said. "And I'm very proud that the governor signed the Harvey Milk holiday bill. I think it will save lives, and it makes this event so much more meaningful."

Milk's exhibit features a time capsule created by his lover, Scott Smith, that includes a lock of Milk's hair, a tape recording of one of his speeches and a rainbow flag. The exhibit also includes the supervisor's groundbreaking 1978 sexual discrimination ordinance and the Medal of Freedom.

Each of the exhibits are different. A number of Scholder's striking works - which focus on fighting stereotypes of American Indians - are on display, and Lucas' area includes R2-D2 and C-3PO, the "Star Wars" robots, as well as Indiana Jones' jacket, whip and hat from the 1989 film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."

Visitors can learn about the effect Kaiser - best known for his namesake health care organization and groundbreaking approach to health care - had on a wide range of industries and policy. Kaiser oversaw the construction of some of the nation's most important infrastructure, then went into shipbuilding during World War II, hiring minorities and women - and keeping them on staff after the war ended, said Tom Debley, Kaiser Permanente's director of heritage resources. Four of those shipyards were in the city of Richmond.

The California Museum, in downtown Sacramento, will display the 13 exhibits through October.

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.